Uttarakhand, commonly referred to as Uttaranchal, is a state in northern India. Its name means "Northern Land." Since there are so many Hindu temples and pilgrimage sites spread out across the state, it is frequently referred to as the "Devbhumi" (literally, the "Land of the Gods"). The Himalayas, the Bhabar, and the Terai regions of Uttarakhand are noted for their pristine natural surroundings. It shares boundaries with the Indian states of Uttar Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh to the south, the Tibet Autonomous Region of China to the north, the Sudurpashchim Province of Nepal to the east, and the Tibet Autonomous Region of China to the north and west. There are 13 districts overall spread across the state's two divisions, Garhwal and Kumaon. Dehradun, the state's largest city and a train hub, serves as Uttarakhand's winter capital. The summer capital of Uttarakhand is Bhararisain, a town in the Chamoli district. Nainital is where the state's High Court is located. Humans have lived in the area since prehistoric times, according to archaeological evidence. During the Vedic era of ancient India, the area was a part of the Uttarakuru Kingdom. The Kunindas, who followed an early branch of Shaivism, were one of the first significant dynasties in Kumaon in the second century BCE. Buddhism first appeared in this area as evidenced by Ashokan edicts at Kalsi. The Katyuri monarchs of Kumaon, sometimes known as the "Kurmanchal Kingdom," united the area throughout the Middle Ages. The territory was split into the Kumaon Kingdom and the Garhwal Kingdom following the fall of Katyuris. As part of the Treaty of Sugauli, the British received the majority of what is now Uttarakhand in 1816. Although the former hill kingdoms of Garhwal and Kumaon were historically rivals, strong ties between the two areas were forged by the proximity of various neighboring ethnic groups and the complementary and inseparable nature of their geography, economies, cultures, and traditions. These ties were further strengthened during the Uttarakhand movement for statehood in the 1990s. Generally speaking, residents of the state are referred to be Uttarakhandis, or more particularly, depending on their region of origin, either Garhwalis or Kumanis. With a population of 10,086,292 as per the 2011 India Census, Uttarakhand is the 20th most populous state in the country.
